Combination flank strap and cinch girth



1941- w. E. HARVEY 2,252,257

COMBINATION FLANK STRAP AND CINCH GIRTH Filed Aug. 12, 1940 2 sweats-sham} v M/i/liakr I l array A ito'rneys v u 12, 1941. w. E. HAYRVEY 2,252,257

COMBINATION FLANK STRAP- AND CINCH GIRTH Filed Aug. 12, 1.940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 M/liam f. Han e) Q 4 V B A itomeys Inventor Patented Aug. 12, 1941 COMBINATION FLANK GIRT STRAP AND CINCH H William E. Harvey, Malaga, Wash.

Application August 12, 1940, SerialNo. 352,335

3 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in harness and more particularly to fasteners for flank straps.

As is well-known, in riding bucking horses, a flank strap is fitted around the horse and ordinarily fastened by the usual harness buckle. The removal of such a strap, particularly, as well as attachment of the same, is both difficult and dangerous. Also, riders of such horses utilize a noose rope, or cinch girth, for holding onto by way of assistance in retaining their seats and which is released to fall to the ground if the rider is thrown or dismounts.

The principal object of my invention is to provide for unfastening or releasing the fiank strap automatically when the noose, or cinch girth, falls from the horse to the ground so as to obviate the hazardous operation of unfastening the flank strap while it is attached to the horse.

Another object is to equip the'fiank strap with a simple, inexpensive, fastener means, and the cinch girth with means for opening the fastener under the weight thereof and during falling of the same.

To the accomplishment of the above, and subordinate objects presently appearing, a preferred embodiment of my invention has been illustrated in the accompanying drawings, set forth in detail in the succeeding description, and defined in the claims appended hereto.

In said drawings:

, Figure 1 is a view in perspective of a flank strap and cinch girth equipped according to my invention,

Figure 2 is a View in perspective of the fastener in closed condition, and drawn to an enlarged scale,

Figure 3 is a similar view illustrating the fastener opened, and

Figure 4 is a fragmentary View in longitudinal section of the fastener drawn to a further enlarged scale.

Referring to the drawings by numerals, according to my invention, a flank strap I, preferably of leather, is provided having a short section 2 6, I, of-leather and a wool lining 8 on the inner strip, all stitched together, as at 9, the pad, as will be understood, being designed to be imposed against the belly of the horse, lining uppermost. The end of the flank strap I opposite the ring end thereof is riveted, as at I0, to the outer face of the outer strip 6 adjacent one end of the latter. Extending inwardly from the other end of the strip 6 along the center thereof, for a short distance, is a metal guide bar II spaced at opposite ends thereof from the strip 6 by a pair of outer and innerrec'tangular blocks I2, E3, of metal spaced apart longitudinally of the strip and bar. The bar I I is provided with an intermediate portion I4 of reduced width upon which is mounted a metal loop forming a catch I5 for a purpose presently seen and slidable along the portion I4 toward and from. the outer end of the bar II. A leaf spring I6 is secured at its opposite ends between the blocks I2, I3, and strip I, and bar II, said spring extending through the catch I5 and having a bowed intermediate portion I'I between the blocks I2, I3, adapted to frictionally block sliding of the catch I5 along the portion I4 of bar II in either direction. The outer end of the bar II is bifurcated, as at I8, anda bar-like hasp I9 is pivoted at one end, as at 20, between the furcations thereof to swing upwardly and downwardly thereon into and from engagement with the bar I I. The hasp I9 is adapted to be inserted through the ring 4 and has an outwardly curved part to accommodate said ring, and designated 2 I, when the hasp is swung into engagement with the bar II. In the upward, engaged position of hasp I9, said hasp extends lengthwise of bar I I so that the catch I5 may be slid toward the outer end of the bar and. over the free end of the hasp to hold the same in upward, closed position. As will be understood, sliding of the catch IS in the opposite direction releases the hasp I9 so that the latter may swing down on its pivot and permit the ring 4 to slide off, thereby opening the fastener and unfastening the flank strap I. The bowed portion I! of the spring I6 yieldingly blocks sliding movement of the catch from the described holding position thereof. Rivets 22 suitably arranged secure the bar II, spring I6, and blocks I2, I3 to the strip 6.

The cinch girth 24 comprises a belly band designed to be trained around the body of the horse adjacent his shoulders, or fore quarters, and includes a pair of end strap sections 25 and an intermediate section 26 secured to the sections 25 by harness rings 21, said girth also including a pair of rope sections 28 having ends secured to the strap sections 25 by harness rings 29 and links 30. One of the rope sections 28 is provided with a terminal loop 3| for the extension of the other section therethrough to form a slip connection. As will be understood, the girth is secured around the belly, and back of the horse by the rider holding onto the end of the proper rope section and when the rider releases said section the slip connection parts and the girth falls to the ground.

In order to open the fastener 5, a release strap 32 is attached at one end to the fastener as by folding said end around the inner end of the bar I I with one of the rivets 22 extended through said fold, said strap being looped through a link 33 swingably secured to the catch I5, and then looped through a similar link 34 swingably mounted in the fold 35 of said strap 32, the other end of said strap 32 being connected by a swivel snap hook 36 thereon to a link 38 secured to a short strap 39 which is in turn secured to the center part of the section 26 of the described belly band.

As will be apparent, when the cinch girth 24 falls to the ground it will exert a pull on the release strap 32 pulling the latter through the link 34 to shorten the loop extending through the link 33 thereby pulling on catch I5 and thus sliding the same along the portion I4 of the bar I I to release the hasp I9. As We have already seen, upon release of the hasp IS, the latter will swing down on the pivot 20 thereof and permit ring 4 to slide off the same, so that the fastener is opened and the flank strap I is unfastened automatically to fall to the ground.

The foregoing will, it is believed, sufiice to impart a clear understanding of my invention without further explanation.

Manifestly the invention, as described, is susceptible of modification without departing from the inventive concept, and right is herein reserved to such modifications as fall within the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having described the invention, claim is:

1. In a harness for horses, a flank strap and a cinch girth adapted to be trained around the body of a horse adjacent the hind and fore quarters, respectively, said girth having detachable what I ends and being adapted to fall to the ground when said ends are detached, and a fastener for attaching the ends of the flank strap together under the belly of the horse comprising an elongated body portion having one end secured to one end of said strap, a ring on the other end of said strap, a hasp pivotally mounted on the body portion for insertion through said ring and swingable downwardly under pull of the flank strap thereon to permit the ring to slide off the same, means on said body portion for locking said hasp against downward swinging and operative to unlocking position, and means connecting said girth to said first means for operating the same to unlocking position under the weight of the falling girth.

2. In a harness for horses, a flank strap and a cinch girth adapted to be trained around the body of a horse adjacent the hind and fore quarters, respectively, said girth having detachable ends and being adapted to fall to the ground when said ends are detached, and a fastener for attaching the ends of the flank strap together under the belly of the horse comprising an elongated body portion having one end secured to one end of said strap, a ring on the other end of said strap, a hasp pivotally mounted on the body portion for insertion through said, ring and swingable downwardly under pull of the flank strap thereon to permit the ring to slide off the same, means on said body portion for locking said hasp against downward swinging and operative to unlocking position, and means connecting said girth to said first means for operating the same to unlocking position under the weight of the falling girth, said first means comprising a slidably mounted loop member, the second mentioned means comprising a pull strap secured at one end to said body portion, and a link on said loop member through which said pull strap is looped to exert a pull on the same under pull on the pull strap exerted by the falling girth.

3. In a harness for horses, a flank strap and a cinch girth adapted to be trained around the body of a horse adjacent the hind and fore quarters, respectively, said girth having detachable ends and being adapted to fall to the ground when said ends are detached, and a fastener for attaching the ends of the flank strap together under 1e belly of the horse comprising an elongated body portion having one end secured to one end of said strap, a ring on the other end of said strap, a hasp pivotally mounted on the body portion for insertion through said ring and swingable downwardly under pull of the flank strap thereon to permit the ring to slide off the same, means on said body portion for looking said hasp against downward swinging and operative to unlocking position, and means connecting said girth to said first means for operating the same to unlocking position under the weight of the falling girth, said first mentioned means comprising a slidably mounted loop member, and a friction lock opposing movement of said member to unlocking position.

WILLIAM E. HARVEY. 

